Student Cities

Rome

Where to start if not with the Italian capital? Well, most people probably start with the main sights – the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps or the catacombs. But as a student in Rome, the fun lies in discovering new sides to the “Eternal City”.

You might take in a show in one of Rome’s many theaters, or enjoy a large outdoor performance at the Stadio Flaminio or Olympic Stadium. If you’re keen on literature, why not enjoy a night out at a ‘book bar’ – a fusion of bar, library and book club? For bargain hunters, Rome’s antique fairs and flea markets offer reams of vintage and second-hand goodies. If you’re brave enough, you might even rent a scooter and try to navigate Roman traffic.

Milan

Celebrated as one of world’sbest cities for students, Milan offers the full package: world-class universities, a high standard of living, and a large and diverse student population. A thriving economic hub in the north of Italy, Milan retains a strong sense of its past, while simultaneously representing modern urban Italian life.

The city’s cosmopolitan population coexists alongside a wealth of historical sites, including the churchSanta Maria alle Graziea UNESCO World Heritage Site which contains the famous paintingThe Last Supper. As well as being Italy’s leading financial center, Milan is recognized as a world leader in the fashion and design industries, designated a ‘Fashion Capital of the World’ alongside London, Paris and New York. If sports are more your thing, you’ll probably know Milan as the home of celebrated football teamsAC MilanandInternazionale, known also as Inter Milan.

Pisa

Once you’ve climbed the famous Leaning Tower and taken one of those photos where you pretend to be holding it up, you’ll find there’s a lot more to Pisa than this iconic landmark! Pisa has more than 20 historic churches, several palaces and a series of stunning bridges across the riverArno. During the summer, you’ll find students relaxing along the banks of the river, sipping drinks from one of the area’s good wine bars.

While you might not find so many clubs or live music venues in Pisa, the city does offer some alternative music venues, disco bars and karaoke bars. Meanwhile, you can enjoy a leisurely dinner or drink at one of the city’s restaurants and bars, have a walk in Piazza Garibaldi and the riverside Lungarno, or treat yourself at one of Pisa’s spas.

The city gets much of its life from its student population, who organize all kinds of parties, shows and cultural events. Amonguniversities in Pisa, the main one is theUniversità di Pisa, ranked 422nd in the QS World University Rankings 2019. The university’s most famous past student is Galileo Galilei, who studied there in the 16thcentury and went on to become one of the world’s most famous astronomers, physicists and inventors. Along with the University of Pisa, theScuola Normale Superioreand theSant’Anna School of Advanced Studies of Pisamake up the Pisa University System, which is recognized as one of Europe’s leading education hubs.

Bologna

Although less familiar to foreigners, Bologna is well-known among Italians, and not just because it is the largest city and capital of the Emilia-Romagna region. Bologna is known as the culinary capital of Italy, famous for its cuisine (la cucina Bolognese). It’s also been named a Creative City for Music by UNESCO, and is known for well-preserved historic center. The city’s pervasive shades of red, from terracotta to burnt oranges and warm yellows, have given it the nicknameBologna la rossa(Bologna the red).

Having developed around one of the world’s oldest universities, Bologna remains very much a university town, with a large and diverse student population. There is a thriving nightlife, good live music scene, and almost a hundred concerts every year featuring international rock, electronic and alternative bands. Other study-break activity options include a restored silent and sound films festival in July, three major car museums (Ducati, Lamborghini and Ferrari), and a Formula One collection.

Application, Fees and Visas

University application procedures in Italy vary depending on whether you are an EU or a non-EU student, and whether you’re applying at undergraduate (referred to as ‘first cycle’) or graduate level (second and third cycle). The Universitaly websiterun by the Italian Ministry of Education has all the information you’ll need about applying to universities in Italy – but keep reading for an overview of key steps.

In general, the first step is to contact your chosen university to check the entry requirements for your degree program. Once your eligibility is confirmed, you must submit a pre-enrolment request form to the Italian Embassy or consulate in your country of origin along with the relevant documentation (see below). You will need to get your documents translated into Italian by an approved translator, in Indonesia the translation must be done by the Italian Cultural Institute. The form you need to fill out will vary depending on whether you are an EU or non-EU student and your degree subject. For example, non-EU students applying to study at institutions for arts, design, music and dance will need to fill in the formForm A-bis, while other students will need to fill the formForm A.

Copy of your school leaving qualification if you are an undergraduate applicant, or copy of your undergraduate qualification certificate if you are a postgraduate applicant, legalized by 1) your university; 2) Indonesian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; 3) Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

Transcript of exams, including name of each passed exam, legalized by 1) your university; 2) Indonesian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; 3) Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

A letter from your University/School stating when you enrolled in that School/University

Two passport-sized photographs (3,5 x 4,5 cm) with white background.

If you choose an entirely Italian course taught, you need to provide proof of proficiency in Italian by presenting the results of an Italian language exam or, alternatively, you will take Italian exam in Italy (usually held in September)

At the Italian Embassy in Jakarta, anUni-Italia Officeis active since October 2012. Uni-Italia, founded on 30th July 2010 jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation(MAECI), theMinistry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), theMinistry of Interior, has the aim of promoting Italian Higher Education and the mobility of foreign students and researchers towards Italian universities as well as encouraging academic cooperation between Italy and other foreign countries. The Association is present in several countries including China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Iran. Uni-Italia works closely with Italian diplomatic offices abroad where Centres of promotion and orientation to study in Italy are located in. All these Centres cooperate with the Italian Cultural Institutes and the Italian Consulates abroad especially in promoting Italian higher education programs, assisting students with their first enquiries made in their own countries. The Association also assists students when they arrive in Italy and for the length of their stay with the aim of facilitating their integration into the new social, academic and cultural environment.

Applying for a visa to study in Italy

You will only be issued a visa to study in Italy if you can demonstrate that you:

Have suitable accommodation in Italy;

Have sufficient funds to cover all costs you might incur while studying in Italy (including tuition, accommodation, transport, textbooks and living costs);

Have sufficient funds to be able to travel back to your country of origin at the end of your studies, or proof that you have already purchased a return ticket;

Are entitled to medical care in Italy, either through private health insurance or an agreement between Italy and your native country;

You might also need to show proof of certificate of payment in full for your degree program.

You will also need to present all necessary documents giving evidence of the requirements outlined above, as well as:

valid travel document whose expiry date is three months longer than that of the visa requested;

proof that the applicant has adequate accommodation in Italy;

proof that the applicant has sufficient means of subsistence of no less than € 453.00 for each month of the academic year;

enrollment or pre-enrollment in the course to be followed in Italy;

the requirements and procedures for the issue of visas are indicated in a special provision, published annually by the MIUR, in agreement with MAECI and Ministry of the Interior.

Tuition fees, living costs and financial aid in Italy

Tuition fees at universities in Italy differ depending on the institution and course, as institutions set their own rates. Regular fees for EU and non-EU students depend on the students family income and on the program students are applying for, from a minimum of (per year) 900 € to a maximum of 4,000 € at a public university in Italy, while private universities will be more expensive. Some specialized courses may also charge higher fees, while doctoral students could receive a grant from their university of choice will not need to pay fees.

In terms of living costs, you’ll need, approximately, €10,000 per year to cover accommodation, food, transport, entertainment and other expenses. When budgeting, you should keep in mind your lifestyle and spending habits, as well as where you’ll be based – major cities and tourist areas will be more expensive than smaller towns, especially in the north of Italy.

International students are eligible for the same scholarships and grants as local students, assessed by academic merit or financial need. This applies to scholarships, student loans, housing assistance, meal tickets and fee waivers. These services are managed by the university’s DSU Office (Diritto allo Studio Universitario – Right to Education), which also provides useful information and services for students including counseling, extra-curricular activities, sports, transport and other practical matters.

Furthermore, Indonesian students, interested to study in the field of Engineering, Advanced Technologies, Economy, Management, Architecture and Design, can apply toInvest Your Talent in Italy Scholarship, which call opens each year, usually, from December to February.

Famous Italian cheeses include Parmesan, from the Parma area in Northern Italy, mozzarella, traditionally made using Italian buffalo milk and pecorino, made by sheep milk.

Time zone: Central European Time (UTC+1), UTC+2 in the summer

Let’s move to Southern Europe – Italy – country of charms with a diverse landscape; an immense cultural and historical legacy; iconic and historic sites including Rome’s Colosseum and Pisa; incomparable cuisine; an impressive history of inventions and discoveries. Boring? What about famous Italian fashion houses? You must very aware of it.

Not forget to mention, the international environment at Italy’s universities along with some of the world’s oldest and most prestigious ones! Ready to study in Italy? Here are some accesses to finance your study or you could find more advice on study in Italy by contacting Uni-Italia (country representative office for education).

Italian Local/Regional Government generously offers international students financial support in the form of free meals or discount coupons, tuition fee partial/full waiver, monthly allowance or free accommodation. For first-year students who enroll in the first year of any degree course, the competition only takes into account the requirements relative to their economic situation. To be able to apply for the scholarships, a list of documents (hard copy) needed to be sent to Uni-Italia’s office in Jakarta for Indonesian applicants

"Invest Your Talent in Italy" initiated by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation - Directorate General for the Promotion of the Country System, in collaboration with Uni-Italy, ICE Agency, with the support of Unioncamere and Confindustria. The program aims to strengthen the internationalization of both enterprises and the Italian university system.
What set this scholarship different from other programs is by offering integrated high academic education and training in the company. This scholarship is only available for Master and postgraduate programs.

Criteria

Hold a three or four years Bachelor"s degree.

Candidate have already applied for admission to one of the Invest Your Talent in Italy courses